Honorable Mention #1: Final Fantasy Explorers

January didn’t set the gaming world on fire, at least not in comparison to the end of 2015 where gamers were beaten over the head with AAA game after AAA game. Still, thanks to some surprise hits, it probably turned out a lot better than what most people thought going into it. Starting with a couple of honorable mentions, check out the Twinfinite’s Staff picks for our favorite games for January 2016 which includes of course, our Game of the Month!

Staff Writer Zak Lyons: Even though it’s reminiscent of the Monster Hunter games, Final Fantasy Explorers stands on its own two feet by bringing in plenty of franchise staples. You can capture Cactuars, Malboros, Bombs, and other iconic Final Fantasy creatures to fight alongside you. Similar to past games, you can also harness the power of classic summonable creatures like Ramuh, Bahamut, and Shiva, but the game takes that one step further and allows you to transform into your favorite characters from past Final Fantasy games as well, and utilize their special abilities. Few things feel better than taking on Alexander in the form of Cloud Strife while attacking with Omnislash.

On top of all that, there’s a job system that allows incredibly deep customization to suit any play style, from the aggressive tank to the buffing healer to the jack of all trades and everything in between. Additionally, while Nintendo isn’t exactly known for their flawless online multiplayer, the online co-op present in Final Fantasy Explorers is surprisingly solid. It’s easy to play with friends across the world with no hiccups or issues.

While the plot is somewhat lacking and the grind-fest nature of this game won’t be for everyone, Final Fantasy Explorers is certainly fun enough to be one of our top games for January 2016.

Ed has been a proud member of the Twinfinite staff since 2014. He plays everything on everything but is particularly fond of JRPGs, MMOs, and sports. He holds a B.A. in history and political science and a M.S. in education all from the University at Albany.